Monday, January 28, 2008 8:54 am | 
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Suharto and Murayama Tomiichi, Japan's Prime Minister at the time, shake hands in 1996. | Photo: (c) MOFA |
Fukuda praises ex-dictator Suharto
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda sent a message of condolence Sunday to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over the passing away of the country’s former President Suharto, and praised his efforts to build friendly relations with Japan, according to a Kyodo News report.
General Suharto controlled Indonesia with an iron-fist for 32 years. His regime ranks among the most brutal dictatorships during the 20th century and has been accused of causing the death of 1.5 million people.
“The former president devoted himself to the relations of friendship between Japan and Indonesia for a long time,” Fukuda said in the message, and expressed “heartfelt sorrow on behalf of the Japanese government and people.“
Among other governments who have praised the former dictator are the United States, who hailed Suharto as a “historic figure” who “achieved remarkable economic development,” without mentioning Suharto’s record of human rights violations.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said similarly that Suharto’s death was a great loss to both countries.
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[…] Indonesian dictator Suharto died a few days ago, and Prime Minister Fukuda has offered condolences to Indonesia、highlighting the ruler’s ties to Japan: General Suharto controlled Indonesia with an […]